INTERVIEW:  Gov. Otu Should Recognise Participation of Critical Stakeholders To Douse Tension, Utum Eteng

IN this exclusive interview, Barr. Utum Eteng, the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Legal, fielded questions from THE BEAGLE NEWS Editor-in-Chief, JUDEX OKORO, on various issues ranging from his role during electioneering, outcome of local government elections and disquiet within the ruling APC. According Eteng, it is high time “Otu liaised and recognised the participation of the critical stakeholders,” adding “they should be carried along to avoid the shocks many of them have complained to me."

Excerpts:
 Assessing the present administration led by Governor Bassey Otu, which you worked hard for during electioneering.

I am still collating the normal information I used to collate right from the time of Donald Duke. I am good at collating information so that when the information is made public nobody is left in doubt. There are some improvements in some aspects of developmental projects in the state. I can see the roads have improved and Calabar is gradually returning to live and the carnival is welcoming more visitors. He is trying. I am still watching and will continue to give him the benefit of doubt because one-and-half years is not enough to graduate student who has four years programme. I believe he is trying based on the limit of resources available to him, which I may not know how much.

 
You seem to be quiet unlike you usually seen as the voice of opposition

Yes, before now, I used to be one of the pillars of constructive criticism in Cross River State. I raised my voice under the leadership of governor Donald Duke, Liyel Imoke and, of course, the immediate past administration of Ben Ayade. I was like the voice of the opposition. Yes, I have been confronted by some persons and in some quarters that Otu has bought me over to keep quiet. You know I am not buyable when it comes to matters of that nature. I am an adult and if you participated in the building of a house, which you know I participated effectively, it is only when you are mad that you can participate in throwing stones. If I throw stones, people will think something is wrong with me. I don't want people to think that something is wrong with me. I have to keep quiet and watch unfolding events because no matter what, the true events will unfold and those that have not been talking will talk and talk excessively. I like talking on point to persuade and convince people.

It's true I worked very hard for the emergence of Prince Otu and God blessed him he got it based on hard work from different quarters and persons. At last! God answered my prayer and he won. After the victory, I was appointed SSA legal to the governor and that's the position his conscience asked him to give to me. 

However, I am still collating my points, my records and facts so that when I speak on those facts there will be unassailable facts, facts within my personal knowledge and that can be verified within the stretch of the hand. So, I choose to keep quiet because Otu has been my candidate, my treasured candidate, which I played a role, a very critical role, and Ayade can say so to you. So, I want to hold my head and continue to watch him and continue to go ahead and pray for his success even as a labourer is entitled to his wages. 

I will contribute by advising him in good faith and I’ll be very happy because he is a man that listens. Take for example the local government election, I advised him and today we have a democratically elected government in place. I thank him so much. It coincides with the judgment of the Supreme Court which from all intents and purposes would appear as something I saw in advance and it resolves the issues I have been advancing. Honestly I feel accomplished and satisfied over the conduct of the local government elections. I was actually a lone voice canvassing for a democratically elected local government councils while almost every other person settled for caretaker committee. 

I had sued the PDP and Ayade administration two times when he thought he could play with the local governments by constituting security councils. I had two full judgments which are still binding on the state and they were not appealed against and not upturned. So, there was no basis for caretaker committee and the governor was convinced of the legal arguments and settled for local governments. I am happy the governor listened. I am very satisfied and accomplished that I have been listened to.

 But there are negative reactions trailing the outcome of local governments election

Well, you see electoral processes are never complete without complaints. There must be complains no matter how badly done or well done. I have heard the complaints and I think this is the first elections that Prince Otu's administration whas conducted as well as the first time the APC, which is the party in the embryo, is selecting people to represent it at the local government elections.

The selection cannot be water tight without complaints. Again, given the opportunity, we have to tell the party itself to be a little bit more careful in the way we conduct these public matters because the public is aware of what is going on. Even if the members of the public are not privy to these things, we must listen to the voices of people because the voice of people is the voice of God. I took part in campaigning round with my chairmanship candidate. 

But I was not in the village when the voting took place but that is not to say I did not listen to the complaints of people. In every election, there should make room for complaints that are genuine. There could be complaints just made for the purpose of complaining. But then, I think even when there are shortfalls, I would want a process where we hold CROSIEC a little bit excused because of the short time allocated to them to conduct this elections. 

They have even tried and I give them kudos. We have to give Otu kudos too for providing funds for the elections. How it was conducted is more or less the work of CROSIEC not the work of the governor.

 APC bigwigs cry foul over the selection process

Well, I have read those reports and like I said, APC is a new party unlike the PDP that has developed the carry-go-system. The big shots may have had their anointed candidates. Sometimes, in a place, there may be more than three big shots and therefore more than two anointed candidates. So, the governor may have to strike a balance. Striking a balance is more important than trying to impress an individual or a big shot because all the big shots I know have candidates. If we are to go by the selection of the candidates of the big shots, then the lesser shot who will run around and participate in the campaigns and voting will be shut out. So, the selection of the candidates should be done in the in interest of the party.

I want to say that, being the leader of APC in Cross River State and leader of the APC in South-South region, Governor Otu will have to liaise and recognise the participation of the critical stakeholders. They should be carried along to avoid the shocks many of them have complained to me. There is need to engage them in taking some critical decisions because they are there for the party. From the latest happening in the state, we should think about 2027 and try to build a foundation deeper and firmer enough because we don't know whether the opposition parties, even though they are not visible, may have entered the trenches. So, we have been ready and united at all times waiting for whatever strategy they come out with we all work together 

Are you comfortable being a Senior Special Adviser Legal based on the role you played?

I've been confronted with this question more than 100 times. Well I played a critical role that's correct and happy it has been acknowledged everywhere both in courts and in the field but I did not give a condition in playing that role. My condition was APC winning the governorship and eventually they won the governorship that is my achievement number one as a member of the APC from the scratch.

 At last I can say the hurdles we passed through in the APC until there was this joinder by Ayade had improved our electoral chances. I put up almost 20 appearances in the different courts from the federal High Court, Appeal Court, Tribunal, Court of Appeal in Lagos. Also, I was in the Supreme Court on February 12 and 13, 2024 to take part in the case until Prince won. I did that without asking for a dime, was all in the spirit of APC.

Imagine a lawyer of my standing appearing in Court without asking for a dime. I was satisfied because I wanted Prince Otu as a governor and wanted the party to produce the governor. If man does not see this or fails to appreciate this, God has seen it. I wait to be appreciated by God. Anyway, I thank Governor Otu for the post he has given me as his SSA Legal and that is his own judgment. I am bound by this as I never gave him a condition. I have to allow him to his judgment, which I believe, will be the judgment of the heart and as a pastor and Christian I think I have to allow him to his own judgment.

Complaints of lopsided appointments by incumbent Governor Otu

Well, to a very large extent I'm aware of such complaints. I'm doing a statistics of the appointments as complained because we need to get this fact correct before we make public utterances. For now, if I speak I will be speculating. I want to speak based on facts from my personal knowledge. That is why I am slow and silent. I am trying to get the details so that when I speak I do so authoritatively. If eventually I find out that the complaints by the other senatorial districts are correct, I can say it without minding whether I will be relieved of my appointment. I know the role I played but I'm a typical APC member. I am taking it easy with the APC and Governor Prince Otu because this is our first outing. I'll just not rock the boat at this early stage because by our style.